Two-key multiple totalizer



April 1968 R. M. WILSON 3,380,630

TWO-KEY MULTIPLE TOTALIZER Filed Dec. 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RONALD M. WILSON ATTORNEYS.

April 30, 1968 R. M. WILSON 3,380,630

TWO-KEY MULTIPLE TOTAIJIZBR Filed Dec. 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet PPR N M INVEA'TOR.

RONALD M. WILSON LI it By fan/(m4 ATTORNEYS,

R M. WILSON April 30, 1968 TWOKEY MULTIPLE TOTALIZBR f5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 15, 1966 lOCL INVENTOR. RONALD M. WILSON Gin/MM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,380,630 TWO-KEY MULTIPLE TOTALIZER Ronald M. Wilson, Ambler, Pa., assignor to William M. Wilsons Sons, Inc., Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania I Filed Dec. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 601,427 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-26) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This device relates generally to registering apparatus for fluid dispensers, and more particularly, to a manual controller for a multiple registering fluid dispensing apparatus, which controller selectively controls the operation of individual registering means in response to manual actuation of limited access selector means.

Disclosure In fluid dispensing apparatus, such as gasoline pumps for use in gasoline sales to private users, it is common to permit more than one user to have access to the pump. A typical gasoline pump will have a discharge hose and valve arrangement on the side of the pump. Attendant to this discharge hose will be several registering means, each comprising a totalizer or recording device for registering, say, the volume of fluid handled by the discharge hose. It is desirable in using the fluid dispensing apparatus, to selectively control the use of a particular totalizer to the exclusion of the other totalizers. It is further desirable that only those authorized to do so, be permitted to make such selection.

In the prior art such selective use and controlled access was accomplished by means of various clutch mechanisms, and locking devices comprising relatively complicated mechanisms.

Summary of invention The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive means for achieving the aforementioned desirable results. It covers a manually operated controller which forms a part of the registering mechanism for any apparatus having, multiple totalizing or registering means driven from a common shaft or drive means, which drive means is connected to a metering source, and which apparatus can be operated by more than one user, in such a manner that only the totalizer assigned to that user will register independently of the other totalizers.

The manually operated controller includes means for independently unlocking that portion of the apparatus which is necessary to start the apparatus and means actuated by said last mentioned means for controlling the selection of a totalizer, so that only that totalizer attendant to the particular locking means in use will register.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a metering device having two totalizers, both normally engaged with the metering source, wherein means are provided to disconnect one totalizer and simultaneously permit the device to be turned on, which means will prevent the use of one totalizer once the other is in use, and prevent the device from being turned on when both totalizers are engaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a registering mechanism for fluid dispensing apparatus of the type described which utilizes two registering or totalizing devices driven from a common shaft or drive means connected to the metering source of the fluid dispensing apparatus, and which can be operated so that each totalizer will register the flow through the discharge outlet independently of the other totalizer, wherein the totalizers may be manually selected to the exclusion of one another, by a simple mechanism which will insure only authorized use of the particular totalizer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a registering mechanism for a fluid dispensing apparatus having multiple register means. which will prevent use of the discharge means without use of the register means.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken-away front elevation of a portion of a fluid dispenser showing a registering mechanism constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear section view taken IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear section view similar to FIGURE 2 with the mechanism shown in an alternate position;

FIGURE 4 is a section of the register driving means taken along the line IVIV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section of a portion of the mechanism taken along the line V-V of FIGURE 2 showing alternative positions.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the registering mechanism (generally designated 1) disposed in a common type of fluid dispensing apparatus 2, such as might be used for dispensing sales of gasoline. A portion of the valve and discharge hose 3 on the side of the dispensing apparatus, is shown. The discharge hose is connected to the output of the pumping means (not shown) which is contained in the lower portion of the dispensing apparatus. The pumping means may be any suitable means as is well known in the art and would comprise among other things, a metering means, motor, and starting means.

The starting means (not shown, but conventional per se) is connected to a conventional switching mechanism (not shown in detail). A portion of the switching mechanism generally designated S (FIGURE 1) is connected to lever 4 and can be actuated by rotation of the lever 4. The lever 4 is connected for rotation through the casing 5 which forms the cabinet of the dispensing apparatus 2, to the handle 6 by any suitable means, such as by pin 7. When the starting means is turned Off, the handle 6 is disposed in the raised position shown in FIGURE 1. Upon rotation of the handle 6 downwardly, the lever 4 will be rotated from the phantom position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in cross-section in FIGURE 3. The rotation of the lever 4 to this position will operate the switching means by closing a circuit and the starting means will be turned On, thereby starting the pump and motor. Simultaneously the metering means and the registering mechanism 1 are actuated so that the volume of fluid discharged will be registered on the particular totalizer in use, either 12a or 12b (FIGURE 1) as will be more fully described hereinafter. The metering means (not shown, but of any conventional type) converts the flow of a given volume of fluid into a predetermined rotational response of a shaft 40 (FIGURES 2, 3, and 4). This shaft is connected to a central bevel gear 9 (FIGURES l to 4) and serves as a drive shaft to rotate not only the central bevel gear 9, but also the bevel gears 10a and 10b, when either of these gears are in meshed engagement with the central bevel gear 9. During operation of the fluid dispensing apparatus, the central bevel gear 9 will be in engagement with only one of the bevel gears 10a and 10b (FIGURES 1 to 4), and will cause that gear to rotate, thereby rotating the shaft 11a or 11b (as the case may be) upon which the gear is mounted. This rotation will cause the totalizer (12a or 12b) connected to the rotating shaft (11a or 1111) to register the volume of fluid being dispensed.

along the line Selection of the gear is accomplished by moving the slide bar 13 of the registering mechanism (designated generally 1 in FIGURE 1). This registering mechanism comprises a frame 14, a slide bar 13, a first lock cylinder 15a, 21 second look cylinder 15b, and the gears and totalizers previously mentioned, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The lock cylinders 15a and 155 are mounted on the casing of the dispensing apparatus 2 so as to protrude into the cabinet area 255, wherein the registering mechanism 1 is located.

Each of the lock cylinders (15a and 15b) has an individual key which, when inserted into its mating lock cylinder will permit the cylinder to be rotated and without which the cylinder cannot be rotated. Each lock cylinder has two pins 16a and 17a and 16b and 17b disposed thereon as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the function of which will be described below with reference to the slide bar 13.

The slide bar 13 is mounted in the frame 14 which in turn is fixedly mounted to the casing 5 within the cabinet area 20. The slide bar 13 may be moved from left to right or right to left (FIGURE 1) with respect to the frame 14. It is preferably bar-shaped to prevent rotation within the frame. The slide bar has three fingers (18a, 18b and 19) projecting therefrom. The fingers 18a and 18b operate to prevent the slide bar from over-traveling and being completely withdrawn from the frame 14, as will be obvious from an examination of FIGURE 1. However, the slide bar is still able to travel a short distance to the left or right, as can readily be seen by a comparison of FIGURES 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lock cylinders 15a and 15b are in the locked position. Note that (in FIGURE 2) the slide bar 13 is prevented from being moved in either direction, either inadvertently or by tampering, by the pins 17a and 1712 which contact the inner surfaces of the FIGURES 18a and 18b, respectively. It is well known that many locking devices can be manipulated by, for instance, the insertion of a wire or prod which can be used to move the locking element to the free position. However, in this invention, even though access to the pump cabinet were improperly obtained by inserting a wire, for instance, through a vent hole in the cabinet casing 5, the slide bar 13 could not be moved to the clear position while both lock cylinders were in the locked position.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, note that while the slide bar 13 is in the locked position (just described), the end 22 of the slide bar 13 will interfere with the downward movement of lever 4 which is connected to the handle 6 and which is necessary to start the pump motor. When the slide bar 13 is moved either to the right or to the left, the end 22 is moved from its interfering position (see FIGURE 5).

The slide bar 13 may be moved by the rotation of either lock cylinder. (For simplicity, I will describe only the motion of lock cylinder 15a.) Two keys 8a and 8b (FIG- URE 1) serve to unlock and actuate their respective lock cylinders 15a and 15b. When the key 8a is inserted into the lock cylinder 15a and the cylinder is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the pin 16a: will contact the left-hand surface of the finger 18a (FIGURE 1). Upon continued rotation of the lock cylinder 15a the pin will cause the slide bar 13 to move to the right as viewed from the front as in FIGURE 1 (or to the left, as viewed from the rear as in FIGURE 3). With the slide bar in this position, it is now possible to rotate the lever 4 downwardly, thereby turning the pump On, since the interfering end 22 of the slide bar 13 has been removed from the orbit of the lever 4.

Note in FIGURE 1, that lock cylinder 1512 would have to be rotated in a clock-Wise direction to reach its unlocked position. It will further be noted, from FIG- URE 3, that the lock cylinder 15]) is prevented from being turned to the unlocked position when the lock cylinder 15a has been turned to the unlocked position, since the finger 1812 on the slide bar 13 has now moved into the counter-clockwise (when viewed from the rear as in FIGURE 3) orbit which the pin 16]) on the lock cylinder 15b would have to take to reach the unlocked position.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the details of the central driving bevel gear 9 and its mating bevel gears 10a and 1% are shown. The central driving bevel gear 9 is mounted for rotation onthe drive shaft 41} from the pump register or metering means (not shown), as previously described. Each driven bevel gear (10a and 1%) is mounted on a separate totalizer shaft (11a and 11b respectively), so as to slide thereon in the direction of the axis of the shaft. These shafts (11a and rib) are disposed along a common axis, which axis is parallel to the axis of motion of the slide bar 13. The driven bevel gears Ida and 1017 are prevented from rotating on their totalizer shafts by pins 31a and 31b which are fixed in the respective shafts, and which protrude therefrom into slots or yo'kes 32a and 32b in the hubs 33a and 33b of the gears. Coil springs 34a and 34b are disposed about the totalizer shafts 11a and 11b between the body of each totalizer and the hub of its respective driven gear, to maintain a force therebetween urging the gear away from the body of the totalizer and toward the central driving bevel gear 9. The gears 19a and 1017 are retained on their respective shafts by any suitable means, such as screws 35a and 3511.

Referring once again to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the finger 19 of the slide bar 13 is shown disposed in the space between the gears 10a and 1011. As shown in FIG- URE 2, the finger IQ is laterally spaced from the bevel gears Ida and 181) when the bar 13 is in the locked position and both gears are engaged with the central bevel gear 9. Note that the motor must be shut off, before both lock cylinders (15a and 15b) can be rotated to the locked position. The reason for this will be apparent from an inspection of FIGURES 3 and 5. When the lever 4 has been rotated to a position wherein the switching mechanism S will have turned the starting means On, the lever 4 will be in an interfering position with the end 22 of the slide bar 13. Should anyone attempt to rotate the lock cylinder 15a in a counter-clockwise direction (FIGURE 3) in an attempt to move the slide bar 13 back to its original position wherein both look cylinders were locked, the lever 4 will interfere with the end 22 and prevent this movement by the slide bar 13. Therefore, the lever 41 must be raised from this interfering position, before the lock cylinder 15a can be returned to its locked position. In so raising the lever 4, the switching mechanism S will have turned the starting means Off, thereby stopping the pump and motor. Since the motor will not be running, there will be no vibration in the dispensing apparatus, and both totalizers 12a and 1215 will be prevented from inadvertent movement or registering, since they are engaged with the central driving gear 9 which is motionless.

The drive shaft 40 will continuously rotate the central bevel gear 9 when the machine is operating. Both bevel gears 10a and 10b would, therefore, continuously rotate, were it not for the fact that registering mechanism 1 prevents the dispensing apparatus from being turned on while both gears are in contact with the driving gear 9. The details of this part of the mechanism are discussed hereinbelow.

As the slide bar 13 is moved to the left as shown in FIGURE 3, the finger 19 of the slide bar 13 engages the base 37b of the bevel gear 1%, thereby causing the bevel gear 1% to move in the direction in which the slide bar 13 is moving, and thereby disengaging the bevel gear 101; from the central driving bevel gear 9. Thus, were it not for the action of the finger 19 of the slide bar 13 in disengaging the gears, the gears would tend to remain in contact, under the action of the spring 34b. It will be apparent that as the slide bar 13 is moved toward the lefthand side, and the gear b for the totalizer 12b on that side is disconnected from the driving gear 9, the opposite gear 10a for the totalizer 12a remains in engagement with the driving gear 9. Since the left-hand totalizer is disengaged, the movement of the driving gear 9 will be recorded only on the right-hand totalizer 12a which is controlled by the right-hand lock cylinder a.

When the finger 19 of the slide bar 13 disengages the bevel gear 10b as shown in FIGURE 3, the left-hand totalizer 12b is not only disengaged, but is also prevented from recording an increased or lessened count due to the rotation of the shaft 11b caused by vibration in the apparatus when the motor is running. This preventive action is caused by the finger 19 which has moved the gear 10b to the disengaged position and which is acting as a brake to prevent the totalizer from vibrating in that position It will be understood from the figures, that what I have described for the sake of simplicity with respect to the coaction of the parts of this mechanism upon rotation of the lock cylinder 15a in a counter-clockwise direction (when viewed from the front as in FIGURE 1) and the resultant movement of the slide bar 13 toward the right (viewed again as in FIGURE 1), applies equally to the coaction of the similar parts on the opposite side of the mechanism upon rotation of the lock cylinder 15b in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the front as in FIGURE 1) and the resultant movement of the slide bar 13 toward the left. Note, for example, in FIGURE 5 that whether the slide moves to the right or to the left, the end 22 will still move out of an interfering relation with the orbit of the lever 4, and permit the apparatus to be turned On. Thus it will be understood that upon rotation of the lock cylinder 15b to the unlocked position, the totalizer 12a will be disengaged and the totalizer 12b will remain in engagement to record the volume of fiuid dispensed. Also in this position, the lever 4- will interfere with the movement of the slide bar 13 toward its original position, and therefore, the lever 4 would have to be raised (thereby turning the machine Otf), before the slide bar 13 could be returned.

Operation Assume now that an authorized person having a key which fits one of the lock cylinders wishes to make use of the fluid dispensing apparatus. Assuming that his key is 8a and fits the left-hand cylinder 15a in FIGURE 1, he will insert the key into the cylinder and turn it in a counterclockwise direction. This is necessary since the slide bar 13 being in the locked position, will interfere with the lever 4 and will prevent the lever from being moved downward and starting the pump motor. The rotation of the left-hand cylinder 15a FIGURE 1 in a counterclockwise direction appears in FIGURES 2 and 3 as the clock wise rotation of the right-hand cylinder 15a, since FIG- URES 2 and 3 are views of the slide bar and registering mechanism from the rear. As the cylinder is rotated the upper pin 16a orbits to a lower position and engages the finger 18a at the right-haud end of the slide bar FIGURE 3. The slide bar 13 is then slid to the left by the action of the pin 16a as it is continued in orbit. The finger 19 of the slide bar 13 disengages the left-hand totalizer gear 16b (FIGURE 3). Simultaneously the end 22 of the slide bar is moved out of interference with the lever 4 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, and the handle 6 may now be depressed, thereby orbiting the lever past the end of the slide bar 13 and starting the pump. As the pump operates, its metering apparatus drives the central bevel gear 9 which is retained in continued engagement with the driven bevel gear 10a of the right-hand totalizer 12a (FIGURE 3). The totalizer 12a will then register the volume of fluid dispensed and display this through the window 50 (FIGURE 1) in the front of the casing 5.

Note that the authorized user of the lock cylinder 15a cannot move the slide bar 13 to the right (FIGURE 3) in order to use the other totalizer 12b. This is true, because in the locked position, the lower pin 17b of the locked cylinder 15b will interfere with the upraised finger 18b on the slide bar 13 and prevent movement of the slide bar 13 to the right.

As previously noted, the contact between the finger 19 and the disengaged bevel gear 10b together with the spring 34b and pin arrangement (31b, 32b, 33b) will prevent inadvertent movement of the parts of the unused totalizer 12b.

When the authorized user has completed his use of the fluid dispenser he will replace the dispensing means 3 and move the handle 6 upward, thereby turning the machine Off. Next he will, by means of his key rotate the lock cylinder 15a in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the front as in FIGURE 1).

Referring again to FIGURES 2 and 3, the subject lock cylinder 15a is the cylinder on the right. As it is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the uppermost pin 17a will orbit to the left and engage the inner edge of the right finger 18a of the slide bar 13, thereby urging the slide bar 13 to the right. The end 22 of the slide bar will now be moved into an interfering relation (FIGURE 2) with the orbit of the lever 4, thereby preventing further use of the dispensing apparatus. The authorized user may now remove his key and the lock cylinder will remain in the locked position.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A metering device comprising:

(a) meter activating means having an on and off condition;

(b) two totalizers disposed in said metering device;

(c) drive means connecting said totalizers with said meter activating means whereby the totalizers are driven in response to said meter activating means, both of said totalizers being normally in engagement with said drive means; and

(d) control means disposed in said metering device to engage said totalizers and movable to a plurality of positions for disengaging one of said totalizers in a first position and for disengaging the other of said totalizers in a second position, said control means and said meter activating means cooperating to provide means for preventing the meter activating means from being placed in an on condition when said control means is not engaged with either of said totalizers and for preventing return of said control means from either said first or said second position when said meter activating means has been placed in an on condition.

2. in combination with a fluid dispensing apparatus having a discharge means and multiple registering means for registering the quantity of fiuid dispensed by said apparatus through said discharge means, which registering means are driven from a common drive means in response to the How of fluid through said dispensing apparatus, an improved registering mechanism comprising:

(a) said multiple registering means which comprises (1) flow registering devices, and

(2) independent drive means connected to each of said flow registering devices to be driven by said common drive means;

(b) locking means including a lock member attendant to each fiow registering device, mounted for movement between a locked and unlocked position;

(c) control means comprising:

(1) a frame, and

(2) a bar slidably mounted in said frame, said bar having a plurality of fingers disposed thereon so that each of said lock members has attendant to it a separate finger and at least one of said fingers is disposed to engage said independent drive means; and

(d) means disposed on each of said lock members to engage said fingers attendant therewith to produce movement of the bar on manual actuation of the locking means, whereby said control means engages said independent drive means and prevents actuation of all but one of recording devices on movement of a single lock member to the unlocked position.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein:

(a) separate shafts connect each of said independent drive means with a separate flow registering device; each of said independent drive means being slideably mounted on its respective shaft and normally in engagement with said common drive means; and

(b) said finger disposed on said bar to engage said independent drive means, coacting therewith to disengage all but one of said independent drive means from said common drive means u-pon movement of a single lock member to an unlocked position.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein a separate spring is disposed on each of said shafts in compression between said registering means and said independent drive means.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein;

each of said lock members has a plurality of pins protruding therefrom disposed to engage the finger attendant thereto, said plurality of pins comprising:

('1) a first pin disposed to engage said finger upon movement of the lock member to the unlocked position, thereby causing said bar to slide in said frame;

(2) a second pin disposed to engage said last mentioned finger upon movement of the lock member from an unlocked position to a locked position, thereby causing the bar to slide in the frame and return to the position which it occupied prior to being moved by the first pin; and

said first and second pins being so disposed on their lock members with respect to said fingers that when any one lock member has moved to the unlocked position, the pins of the other lock member will prevent that lock member from being moved to the unlocked position. 6. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein there is provided:

(a) switch means for actuating said fluid dispensing apparatus;

(b) lever means mounted for rotation and connected to said switch means to operate said switch means on rotation of said lever means; and

(c) said bar having an end thereof disposed to normally interfere with the rotation of said lever means to prevent said lever means from operating said switch means when said lock members are all in a locked position, and to permit said lever means to rotate and operate said switch means, when any lock member has moved to an unlocked positi n.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said lever means is so disposed with respect to said end of said bar that when a lock member has been moved to the unlocked position and said lever means has been rotated to a position which would otherwise have been prevented by said end of said bar, then said lever means will interfere with said end of said bar and prevent it from being returned to its original position upon movement of said lock member toward a locked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,041 12/1912 Cole. 2,024,492 12/1935 Wallace 235-94 2,577,115 12/1951 Eichner 22226 X 2,838,237 6/1958 Spaunbu-rg et a1. 222-35 X 2,995,275 8/ 1961 Brice 222-26 FOREIGN PATENTS 711,980 7/1954 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

K. N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

